Private US Spacecraft En Route to the Moon Captures Breathtaking View of Earth

January 25, 2025 TruthUSA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—A privately operated U.S. spacecraft heading to the moon has taken breathtaking images of Earth just a week into its journey.

Still in orbit around Earth, Firefly Aerospace’s lunar lander activated its thrusters on Thursday to set a course for the moon, aiming for a landing in over a month. Named Blue Ghost, the spacecraft transmitted stunning photos and videos of our planet, often referred to as the Blue Marble. The Texas-based company shared these images on Friday.

The spacecraft is carrying experiments for NASA, contributing to the agency’s mission to return astronauts to the moon within this decade.

Blue Ghost is one of two lunar landers that SpaceX launched from Florida on January 15. It is planning to land on the moon on March 2. The other lander, sponsored by the Japanese firm ispace, is traveling a longer route and is expected to land in late May or early June.

This marks Firefly’s inaugural moon mission, while ispace is on its second attempt after its first lander crashed on the moon in 2023. The Tokyo-based company’s latest lander, named Resilience, is currently orbiting Earth and executing maneuvers to approach the moon.

By Marcia Dunn